"Golden Windbag 2011": Nominated companies fight back
Foodwatch is holding a vote to determine which food manufacturer deserves the «Golden Windbag 2011» award for the most brazen advertising lie. Now the organization itself is coming under fire.
The accusations made by Foodwatch are unfounded and mislead the public, writes Danone in a statement available to Werbewoche.ch. Danone works on the basis of recognized research and studies: The effect of Aktivia on intestinal well-being mentioned in the communication is based on extensive and long-standing research. The communication is based on the results of 17 scientific studies (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy studies) with the product in humans. "The studies show significant results for the effect of Activia on intestinal well-being," the company continues. The studies and their results have been reviewed by independent scientists and published in renowned scientific journals. And customers have confirmed through their own experiences what has been scientifically proven in the studies.
According to Horizont.net, the Berlin-based confectionery company Storck, whose Nimm2 fruit candy is one of the candidates for the "most audacious advertising lie of 2011", also rejects all accusations and more or less bluntly accuses Foodwatch of being financed by the competition and therefore not acting independently. In a statement, Storck justifies the accusation with the fact that Foodwatch was founded with a donation of 250,000 euros from the confectionery manufacturer Alfred Ritter. "The debate about our product therefore comes from an organization that has been very significantly financed by one of our company's main competitors," Storck's Head of Communications Bernd Rößler is quoted as saying on Horizont.net - and accuses Foodwatch of simply being biased.
> "Golden Windbag 2011": Consumers vote for the most audacious advertising lie
